This fitness-loving couple curates bespoke home gyms

Opened in July, Cycling Bears’ by-appointment-only showroom along East Coast Road showcases how elegant home gyms can be. Each piece of equipment, whether a dumbbell or a bench press, from the likes of Ciclotte, PENT, NoHrd, Enigma and WaterRower, is handcrafted and can be customised to complement any interior design scheme. Most, if not all, of the brands they partner with have also been selected for their ESG credentials.



Apart from outfitting home gyms, Cycling Bears also works with hotels and private clubs, and plans to expand across the region in 2023, particularly into Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia.



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Cycling Bears

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Certainly, we’re attracted by beauty, but is an aesthetic gym more likely to motivate people to exercise?

Debra Tay (DT): We would like to think so. We want to help everyone create a sanctuary that draws them in. A beautiful, well-designed exercise space will attract you to go there more often. Imagine if you were staying in a hotel and the gym was only a small cabinet-sized space. You would not spend too much time exercising there. However, if the hotel had a large gym with high ceilings, plants, and beautiful equipment, you would more likely exercise there for a longer period — every day.

The brands you carry are known for their craftsmanship. I believe you are familiar with this area, Tudi.

Tudi Guillamot (TG): Yes, I grew up in the countryside of Brittany, and my father was always creative. He was in woodworking and renovated many old manors and chateaux. I was his unpaid assistant during my teenage years, and it greatly influenced my appreciation for good quality woodwork and handcrafted pieces. I learned to be quite handy and it is rewarding to be able to fix something rather than replacing it. This is how I started fixing and putting together my own bicycles. My friends soon asked me to do the same for them. Cycling Bears was born of this idea.

Cycling Bears

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How much do you value fitness and sports in your lives?

DT: Despite enjoying my work, it can be quite stressful. Exercising balances this out for me because of the endorphin rush. On weekdays, I work out twice a week at the gym and take a stretch class and a spin class. For the past 12 years, I’ve been doing long runs on the beach on Saturdays and I go for kickboxing on Sundays. I’d say I am highly enthusiastic, but it is more for my fitness and me-time rather than competitions.

TG: We both love trying new sports. However, Debra is more about the experience — sports like scuba diving, where she feels free to wander and discover underwater life with every trip. She also loves skiing and being outdoors.

DT: Tudi loves mastering new sports and pushing boundaries. Even though he only started skiing four years ago, he loves skiing down the black slopes to test himself and what he can tweak to improve his form. He also enjoys competitive cycling and is always looking to improve himself and the equipment he uses.

At Cycling Bears, how do your roles complement one another?

TG: Being a trained engineer, I am very structured and will make sure the backend operations, such as pricing and logistics, and all technical aspects, are always in order. My background in carpentry helps me oversee quality control and identify any issues with the products received.

DT: Being design-savvy and people-oriented, I managed the setting up of Cycling Bears’ private showroom. Now I advise clients and work with interior designers on fitness space design.

 

Related: Three new boutique gyms in the CBD to consider